Nickay Piper ’17

Nickay Piper is an award-winning entrepreneur, technologist, and strategist who builds for what’s next. She is the founder of Pomp Academy, the first interactive continuing education platform designed specifically for beauty professionals in a $500B+ industry often ignored by tech and policy. Her work lives at the intersection of education, equity, and innovation—with a focus on transforming overlooked industries through smart systems and better storytelling.

Prior to launching Pomp, Nickay led Way Creative House, a software and marketing agency, for over a decade, working across civic tech, political campaigns, and Fortune 500 initiatives. In 2020, she built Know The Vote, a beta app that simplified voter education and access during the 2020 presidential election .

A proud Bronx native, Nickay was recognized by Congress for her service to the community. She’s built tools and taught others to use them—most notably, a top-rated digital marketing course at SUNY Westchester. She continues to advise policymakers, lead cross-functional teams, and develop tools that blend design, technology, and public good. When she’s not working, she’s somewhere between a spice rack, a passport stamp, and the front row of a concert—genre optional, great energy mandatory.